Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Missing Skeeter

TBT:  Today, 6 years ago, my heart cat passed over the Bridge.  His name was Skeeter and he was the best cat I ever had. 

He slept under the covers hppily without dsturbing my sleep, he sat on my lap without feeling heavy, he licked my hand without roughness.  He happily ate whatever I provided (especially tuna), played wand toys any chance I gave, and was a kind and protective big brother to LC who arrived the year after he did.  He protected LC from Mean Old Tinkerbelle. 

He patrolled the yard endlessly to make sure there were no introoders.  He was a dedicated and talented Mouser.  He was always relaxed in in himself, by which, I mean he knew who he was and never had to pretend to be otherwise. 

Skeeter was Skeeter all the way. 

He had a hard start.  I found him in a small local pet shop alone in a cage where the whole store was being beaten apart loudly.  I had gone in looking for a Siamese, I came out with him.  It was one of the best decisions I ever made.

He never quite recovered from the horrible noise and dust of his kittenhood, and I protected him from that all the days of his life.  When LC came along from the same store, he welcomed her.

Skeeter was MY kitty, LC was his...

Skeeter once grew to 16 pounds of mancatly hunter.  I saw him jump once 6' high to catch a sparrow.  He was all muscle!!!

In his last years he lost weight down to 14 then 12 pounds.  He was still a great hunter.  There were fewer voles and mice his years than any years before or since.

In his last year, he lost weight and muscle.  I had never had a cat who lived to 16 before.  The Good Vet explained about kidney failure and we did our best for him his last months.  The vet said he would start to loose balance at the end, but would not be feeling pain, but that I should bring him in at that point. 

"That Point" occurred on December 9, 2008, and I brought him to his final vet visit Dec 10th.

He left my world at 3:45 PM, in my arms, as I told him much I loved him...

I brought his body home and laid it out for LC and Ayla to sniff.  I wanted them to know (as best they could) that he gone, not wandered off.  LC understood, I think.  Ayla was young, but she seemed to understand.  They both sat next to him for a while.  Then the both slowly walked away at the same time.

I brought him out to the spot he had last seemed to enjoy and dug a 2' deep hole for him. 

I love Ayla, Iza, and Marley very much, and I am deeply glad for them.  And I am glad for the ones who came before.  But Skeeter was the first cat who lived his whole life with me and had me send him off to the Bridge. 

His first moment home...
 
 In his prime, and just look at those fur patterns..

On his last day...
Oh Skeeter, I miss you so much.

You would be proud of the Cat's-Who-Came-After.  Marley keeps the peace as you did.  Iza and Marley are great mousie-hunters.  Ayla remembers you (and LC), and is the great hunter you taught her to be.  Your hunting skills have lived on from one generation to the next...

I just KNOW you and LC are romping through the fields over the Bridge together.  We will meet again one day...










17 comments:

Brian's Home Blog said...

Such a loving tribute to the special, special Skeeter.

Lisa Kolosey said...

Thanks for sharing Skeeter's story with us...
I've shared a similar struggle 5 times in the last seven years. One of those was my dear Busterphor who looked a lot like Skeeter.

~MamaLisa

TimberLove said...

We came to paw our respects, Skeeter sounds like a fine kitteh,

Nuk & Isis

Terri said...

Pets leave a hole in our heart when they are gone. However, some leave a hole nothing can fill...

Pretinha said...

Eu entendo bem a falta que vocĂȘ sente do Skeeter.

ANGEL ABBYGRACE said...

What a beautiful remembrance for Skeeter. I know you treasure those 16 years which are never enough. They touch our souls, those special ones, and they never leave us. Only their bodies which have too temporary of life span, but their love and the bonds stay encircled in our hearts until we can reunite with them again, when our days are done.

KitKat said...

Such a beautiful and moving tribute to Skeeter. We remember this day like it was yesterday. We followed Skeeter and LC before Ayla and Marley came along. Skeeter was indeed special.
Angel Normie, Mika, Sasha & Grady Lewis

Max said...

Skeeter was DA MAN. He's one of the first doods I'm looking for when I get to the Bridge.

Memories of Eric and Flynn said...

This is such a lovely and touching tribute to Skeeter. We love them so much that it is inevitable that our hearts will be broken when they have to leave us.

Andrea and the Celestial Kitties said...

What a beautiful tribute. He was indeed a handsome kitty, love his spots.
I know how you feel. You love all of your kitties, but there's that one that's just special, the heart kitty. There are others, but none like that one.
Hope you are remembering today with more good memories than bad ones from the end.

Ivan from WMD said...

What a very nice remembrance of your heart cat.

I know that LC and Ayla appreciated that last visit with Skeeter. My mom did that with my old bro Eddie, and we all understood. That was a very sweet and considerate thing for you to do for your best friend.

Katnip Lounge said...

This was simply lovely. Skeeter would be so happy, knowing you still love him so much...and perhaps he does.

Unknown said...

What a wonderful tribute to a wonderful cat! Its the Mom here, not Nellie. Reading your so eloquent words made me weep a little. It has been 4 years since Licorice - my heart Cat went over the bridge and I am not yet ready ... I send you much strength and love

Kitties Blue said...

How lovely. Skeeter sounds as if he was a most wonderful cat, and he was super handsome. Of the 17 cats we have had, I have had two heart cats who are now angels and one heart cat who is currently a member of the family. I have loved every cat who has ever lived with me, but there are some that are truly special. Sending prayers as you remember Skeeter. Hugs, Janet

Megan said...

I am moved every December when you post about Skeeter. Thank you for sharing with us. I hope it is of some comfort to you to do so, because I find it inspirational and it also helps me to know that I'm not the only one who feels like this about a cat that has long gone.

Megan
Sydney, Australia

Meezer's Mews & Terrieristical Woofs said...

A lovely tribute to a most special kitty. Thanks for baring your heart so we could meet him.

(((((Hugs!)))))

Alastriona, The Cats and Dogs said...

We remember Skeeter fondly, and enjoyed reading the tribute you did for him today.

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